Fishing device



2 Sheets-Sheet l R. H. KLUGE ETAL FISHINGDEVICE INVENTORS fogli-e7- HA/r/GE,

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BY gauw( afd ATTORNEYS Sept. 17, 1963 Filed Deo. 15. 1960 Sept. 17, 1963R. H. KLUGE Erm.

FISHING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. l5, 1960 United States PatentO 3,103,759 FISHING DEVICE Robert H. Kluge, Vassar College, and HarveyMyers, 193 Smith St., both of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Filed Dec. 13, 1960,Ser. No. 75,633 2 Claims. (Cl. 43-17) This invention relates to fishingdevices and more particularly to devices for holding la fishing rod randdevices for emitting a signal when a fish strikes the line.

There Iare many devices of this character presently available, ysome orfwhich `both hold the rod as the line is strung out in the water andrender ya signal when a strike is made at the line. Many of them,however, suffer from bulkiness and complexity and are susceptible tos'o-called wind bites and loss of the prey when the excessive drag ortension they exert onthe line causes the fish to spit the bait as hetries to run against the tension.

Ain object :of the present invention is to provide la fishing devicewhich will render a signal when a strike is made, but which is notencumbered by the yallorementioned disadvantage.

Another object is to provide a fishing device which will hold the rodduring the shing operation as well as render a signal when a strike ismade.

A further object is to provide -a device of this character which is notsubject to wind |bites land/or loss of the prey because fof excessivetension on the line.

Another object is to provi-de a device of this character having an alarmarrangement which is particularly sensitive to fish strikes on the line.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character whichsimple and light in construction, easy to operate, `and compact enoughto fbe carried, for example, in oncs coat pocket.

Other objects will become apparent upon consideration of the following`detailed specification in connection with 'the accompanying drawings.

Briefly, the invention involves a fishing vdevice in which twoelectrical contacts are operatively separated Aby the fishing line sothat when the Iline is withdrawn during `a strike, bias on at least one[of the contacts will result in their engagement to close an electricalcircuit having an associated signal means. The device is so constructedmoreover that it engages the line 'only at this point between thecontacts 'and thus `once the line is withdrawn from between them, it liscompletely free to run out, there being no more restraint on it thanthat normally provided yby the rod and/o1- reel apparatus with which itis commonly associated. On the other hand, because of this arrangementof contacts, it is possible through adjusting, the bias o-n them toprovide such necessary tautness in the line as to prevent its fouling bythe wind and current without so-clarnping the line as to prevent itsquick release when a fish strikes.

In preferred form a holder for the fishing rod defines one of thecontacts, the other being mounted on and biased for engagement with theholder when the line is Withdrawn.

The `holder can comprise la tube adapted at one end to hold the rod andhaving the contact means :at yone -side of it. The tube need he yonlythe size of la three-cell flashlight and the contact spring mounted -atthe orvvard end portion of the tube so as to be the more accessible forthe line. Preferably it is mounted adjacent the position cornmonly takenby the reel when the rod is inserted in the holder tube.

The helder tube can be ladapted lalso to Camry a small battery orsimilar means for providing the charge necessary to actuate the signalwhen the circuit is closed across the contacts.

Means can be provided on the holder tube moreover 2 for securing it inthe ground during the fishing operation or for clamping it on the sideof a boat. This securing means preferably is foldable or detachable solas to facilitate carrying the device. It can be re-attachable in a car-Tying position.

Understandably, any one lof la number of electrically actuated signalmeans, such as buzzers, bells, lights, and the like, can be used in thecircuit.

By wlay orf illustrating the invention without limiting its scope,reference should be made to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side View of the device in preferred form;

FIG. 2 is a top View of the same; and

FIG. 3 is a `center sectional View of the device as shown in iFIG. 2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several views there is shown at 1 inFIG. l :the handle portion of a conventional fishing pole. This fishingpole may be provided with a reel such as shown iat 2 having line 3 woundthereon.

According to the present invention a holder is provided for the handleportion of the fishing pole. 'Ihis holder comprises -a tubular member 4which may be made of electrically conducting material. Mounted on theouter face of tubular member 4 is an insulating block 5 to which issecured Iby any sui-table means a spring contact 6 is normlally biassedinto contact with the member 4. As shown, contact 6 is secured by meansof a nut and screw bolt 7.

'There is valso mounted on the insulating block 5 ka buzzer 8, which iselectrically connected at lone terminal to the contact 6 through leadwine 7a and nut and holt 7. The buzzer 8 at the other termin-al iselectrically connected through a toggle switch 9 and wire 10 with acentral contact 16 mounted in insulating holder 11. A brattery 12. hasthe positive terminal thereof in contact with contact 16 and thenegative terminal electrically connected with casing 4 through endcasing 13 and spring 14.

There is provided an angular spike 15 which i-s secured to the tubularholder 4 lby means of wing nut 17. It can be seen that this spike l5provides a convenient means for retaining the holder supported on theyground as, for

example, on the bank of a stream with the fishing pole extending overthe water.

The device operates in the following manner. IIihfe fishing line is castin the usual manner and line played out until the `bait is at thedesired depth. The fiis'hing pole is then placed in the holder 4 whichmay lne supported on the ground by means of spike 15. The line 3V isplaced ybetween the spring element 6 `and the tubular member 4. Thetoggle switch is then placed in the yon position. When a sh strik-es theline will be pulled .from beneath the spring element 6 and the element 6will be brought into engagement with the casing 4 to close the circuitwhich will cause the .buzzer to sound. The fisherman may remove theiishing pole from the holder land retrieve the fish in the usual way. Ascan ybe readily appreciated the presently disclosed .signalling devicedoes not impose iany extra tension on the line land thu-s there is noparticular danger in losing the fish because of the retention of thelin-e lby the spring element 6.

Although the invention has been described in considerable ldetail withreference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will beunderstood that 'variations and modificati-Ons can be effected 'withoutdeparting fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as describedhereinabove 'and as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for use with a fishing rod having reel means to reel afishing line, comprising the combination of an electrically conductivetubular member; an insulating Wall intermediately fixed within `saidtubular member and dividing said tubular member Alongitudinally into arod receiving part and Aan electrical source part, said rod receivingpart defining Ia cylindrically shaped opening for receiving a lishingrod handle and said electrical source part delining a battery receivingcompartment; support means attached to 'the tubular member forindependently supporting the apparatus on the ground; an insulatedmember fixed to the outer wall of said tubular member; signalling meansmounted on said insulated member and electrically separated from saidtubular member, a resilient electrical contact member having an endattached to the insulated member and electrically separated from saidtubular member, the other end of said contact member biased toward theouter end of said rod receiving part, said resilient electrical contactmember and the rod receiving part of said tubular member capable ofdisposing therebetween Ia bight of fishing line from the rod, therebyoperatively separating the Contact member and the tubular member; a rstterminal mounted centrally of said insulated wall for receiving abattery lterminal; a second terminal for receiving another batteryterminal and maintaining electrical contact with said tubular member; afirst electrical conductor passing through said tubular member andconnecting the said rst terminal to a terminal of the signalling means;a second electrical conductor connecting `the contact member to anotherterminal of the signal means, thereby completing an electrical circuitfor rendering a signal when a sh strikes to withdraw the bight offishing line from the position `operatively separating the contactmember and the tubular member.

2. The combination according to claim l, wherein the iirst electricalconductor includes switch means to open the circuit after the signal hasbeen rendered.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,589,956 Reddick Ian. 1, 1952 2,741,055 Weber Apr, 10, 1956 2,771,703Jones Nov. 27, 1956 2,986,835 Ordinetz et al. June 6, 1961 Dia-444' e v

1. APPARATUS FOR USE WITH A FISHING ROD HAVING REEL MEANS TO REEL AFISHING LINE, COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVETUBULAR MEMBER; AN INSULATING WALL INTERMEDIATELY FIXED WITHIN SAIDTUBULAR MEMBER AND DIVIDING SAID TUBULAR MEMBER LONGITUDINALLY INTO AROD RECEIVING PART AND AN ELECTRICAL SOURCE PART, SAID ROD RECEIVINGPART DEFINING A CYLINDRICALLY SHAPED OPENING FOR RECEIVING A FISHING RODHANDLE AND SAID ELECTRICAL SOURCE PART DEFINING A BATTERY RECEIVINGCOMPARTMENT; SUPPORT MEANS ATTACHED TO THE TUBULAR MEMBER FORINDEPENDENTLY SUPPORTING THE APPARATUS ON THE GROUND; AN INSULATEDMEMBER FIXED TO THE OUTER WALL OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER; SIGNALLING MEANSMOUNTED ON SAID INSULATED MEMBER AND ELECTRICALLY SEPARATED FROM SAIDTUBULAR MEMBER, A RESILIENT ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEMBER HAVING AN ENDATTACHED TO THE INSULATED MEMBER AND ELECTRICALLY SEPARATED FROM SAIDTUBULAR MEMBER, THE OTHER END OF SAID CONTACT MEMBER BIASED TOWARD THEOUTER END OF SAID ROD RECEIVING PART, SAID RESILIENT ELECTRICAL CONTACTMEMBER AND THE ROD RECEIVING PART OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER CAPABLE OFDISPOSING THEREBETWEEN A BIGHT OF FISHING LINE FROM THE ROD, THEREBYOPERATIVELY SEPARATING THE CONTACT MEMBER AND THE TUBULAR MEMBER; AFIRST TERMINAL MOUNTED CENTRALLY OF SAID INSULATED WALL FOR RECEIVING ABATTERY TERMINAL; A SECOND TERMINAL FOR RECEIVING ANOTHER BATTERYTERMINAL AND MAINTAINING ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH SAID TUBULAR MEMBER; AFIRST ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR PASSING THROUGH SAID TUBULAR MEMBER ANDCONNECTING THE SAID FIRST TERMINAL TO A TERMINAL OF THE SIGNALLINGMEANS; A SECOND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR CONNECTING THE CONTACT MEMBER TOANOTHER TERMINAL OF THE SIGNAL MEANS, THEREBY COMPLETING AN ELECTRICALCIRCUIT FOR RENDERING A SIGNAL WHEN A FISH STRIKES TO WITHDRAW THE BIGHTOF FISHING LINE FROM THE POSITION OPERATIVELY SEPARATING THE CONTACTMEMBER AND THE TUBULAR MEMBER.